Buddy Miles 1947-2008

Buddy Miles, the rock and R&B drummer, singer and songwriter whose eclectic career included stints playing with Jimi Hendrix and as the lead voice of the California Raisins, the animated clay figures that became an advertising phenomenon in the late 1980s, has died. He was 60. A massive man with a distinctive, sculpted afro, Miles hit his peak of popularity when he joined Hendrix and bassist Billy Cox to form Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys, which the New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll called “the first black rock group.” Miles had played with Hendrix on the guitarist’s influential “Electric Ladyland” album released in 1968. The Band of Gypsys made just one album, a live set recorded on New Year’s Eve in 1969-70, and two of Miles’ songs, “Them Changes” and “We Got to Live Together,” were included on the album. He gave the recording a memorable drum riff on one of Hendrix’s signature songs, “Machine Gun.” But, according to Miles, the Band of Gypsys association was brief and stormy. He told The Times in 1988 that Hendrix’s management, not the guitarist himself, fired him within a month of the concert. He thought Hendrix’s managers were leery of continuing with an all-black group. “It had to be a racial thing,” Miles told The Times. “I think it had to scare them because of the political aspect at the time.” Miles was born Sept. 5, 1947, in Omaha. He developed an interest in drums at an early age and by 12 was playing in his father’s jazz combo. Within a couple of years he was in demand as a session player and a sideman, working with top-name R&B groups, including Ruby and the Romantics and the Delfonics. According to the Rolling Stone encyclopedia, he played on the session that produced the Jaynetts‘ 1963 hit “Sally Go Round the Roses.” While playing with Wilson Pickett in 1967, he was approached by guitarist Mike Bloomfield, who asked him to join the blues, rock and soul group Electric Flag. Miles played on three of the band’s albums before forming his own group, the Buddy Miles Express, in 1968. Next came his association with Hendrix. Over the years, Miles recorded two albums with Carlos Santana, one of which went platinum, and worked with other leading music figures, including Muddy Waters and John McLaughlin. He re-formed the Buddy Miles Express in the mid-1970s and had a hit with his song “Them Changes.” While there is always more to a persons story, the fact is that Buddy Miles was a great drummer and it is no surprise to me that he was always affiliated with some great musicians.

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Buddy Miles RIP 1947-2008

Supreme Beings of Leisure: 11i

Well, let em start by mentioning how I spoke to my psych…I mean a friend of mines’ therapist and they told me that she said it is perfectly fine to fall in love with a new album. I mean, c’mon. I have and you might too. Supreme Beings of Leisure has managed to capture cool and sexy so you don’t have to…..and you can now focus on your outfit of the evening or the appropriate number and colors of candles. The third album of the alluring Geri Soriano-Lightwood & Ramin Sakurai is enchanting with hypnotizing tales within states of adreamy chilled out sophistication like a stream-lined martini served on an icy day…..smooth and dangerous. Each track from the dynamic go point of THE LIGHT to the “space is the place” departure of the closing point of LAY ME DOWN, there is a mysterious magnet in the voice, and a familiar yet undiscovered beat to the sounds rendering the listener, well in my case…..TAKEN. This album has become a recent exploration and with each visit I find new favorite moments and spots I missed prior that draw out a smile on my face. The concept album idea is one which evolves within many of an artist and in this album, there is more then meets the eyes….and the ears are catching on.

Become friends with Supreme Beings of Leisure and tell them misterG sent you along.

Supreme Beings of Leisure: 11i
Supreme Beings of Leisure 11i Ryko 2008

Musical Diplomacy in North Korea

The New York Philharmonic brought musical diplomacy to the heart of communist North Korea in a historic concert Tuesday before the communist nation’s elite, playing a program highlighting American music in the nuclear-armed country that considers the United States its mortal enemy. The Philharmonic is the first major American cultural group to perform in the country and the largest delegation from the United States to visit its longtime foe. The visit grew out of a period of warming relations between the nations that remain locked in negotiations over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programs. The Philharmonic began the concert with “Patriotic Song” — North Korea’s national anthem — followed by the U.S. anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The audience stood for both songs and applauded after. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il did not appear to be in attendance at the 2,500-seat East Pyongyang Grand Theater. The U.S. and North Korean flags were both on display at opposite ends of the stage. Following the brief prelude to Act 3 of Richard Wagner’s “Lohengrin,” the orchestra moved on to pieces that aimed to show the ensemble’s importance in American music. That included two pieces that premiered with the Philharmonic: Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 — popularly known as the “New World Symphony,” written while the Czech composer lived in the United States and inspired by native American themes — and George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris.”

With one EYE open

It was a long week of music hoppin’ and this morning I almost slept over, but with one eye open, I made it to and through.

Vishnu Dub- Club d’Elf
One Man Tag Crew- Dub Trio
Wondermint- Turn me on Dead man
Feign Amnesia- They Might be Giants
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Sabre Dance- the Brian Setzer Orchestra
Oxossi- Vernon Reid & Masque
the Fine Scenery- Cosmic Farm
So What- the Derek Trucks band
10 More Shows- Rob Wasserman
Inside Straight- Cannon Re*Loaded
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This Land is your Land-Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters
What a Man- Soul Summit (live)
Rat a Tang Tang- Papa Grows Funk (live)
the Johnson- Four Finger Five
Webspan- the Nucleus
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French Quarter- DJ Logic
Going out of My Head- Fatboy Slim
Funky in the Middle-Nicodemus/Jay Rodriguez/Ticklah
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Nuit Magique- Jazzamor
Swallow- Supreme Beings of Leisure
Motherless Child- Lovespirals
Creepsters from the Deep- 9th Wave
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Krystalline- Sugar Blue
How in the Devil- Sean Costello
She Caught the Katy- Taj Mahal & Phantom Blues w/J. Popper (live)
Dogs of Santiago- Lipbone Redding
Cold Snap- Soul Summit (live)
If I only had a Brain- Paul Sanchez
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Burnin’ for You- Mike Watt
Joe Citizen- BD Lenz

Clyde Stubblefield Band

On a Friday night, what could make it all alright…Some down home original sounding Funky music with the one and only mister Clyde Stubblefield and his band. That is what went down at th Rathskellar to celebrate WSUM’s 6th Anniversary.We are blessed to have Clyde as a Madison resident of over 30 years and we look forward to the continuation of Funky Monday coming back in the near future. Currently, the Clyde Stubblefield Band sports two featured vocalists (male and female), a three-piece horn section (sax, trumpet, trombone), a organ/keyboardist, a percussionist, a smokin’ guitarist and a rock-solid bass to play with the Funky Drummer. Clyde Stubblefield IS the FUNKY DRUMMER! He drummed for James Brown from 1965 to 1970 and recorded such hits as “I Feel Good”, “Coldsweat”, and “The Funky Drummer.” Clyde is one of the most sampled drummer ever, providing some of the most famous and familiar grooves used by DJ’s and hip-hop artists around the world.

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THE Funky Drummer, Mr. Clyde Stubblefield

Galactic & Da FISH

Last night Madison was in DA HOUSE at the Majestic. Galactic brought its from the corner to the block funk sounds to our neighborhood and the crowd was ready, set and man did they go. Both the band and the audience seemed to be on top of their evenings game plan. Galactic provided the back-sound of real home grown funk that started at the click of Stanton’s drum stick and didn’t stop until the whole gang arrived. The audience was giving back the love to the band and especially when they introduced Mr. Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 onto the stage. I could tell by his eyes that he was touched deeply by the warmth of the reception the room provided. There was a track or two from J5 and DA FISH kept it real, just like we like it here in MadCity. There was a wave of arms dancing to the hip hop thang and bodies shakin’ themselves silly to the funky lines being dropped. With the cold air left outside, the heat was turned up as Galactic took us through a music journey that was reminiscent of strolling down a N’Orleans block, where each turn can weave into an unexpected mesh of artists doin’ their thing. They even took a moment to reflect on the past, busting out treats from the snack jar—Manic Depression & Immigrant Song. The latter ended the show in a swarm of head bobbing, and when the whole gang arrived back onstage, including members of the opener Ohmega Watts, the room filled up with the rhythm and soul that a good funkin’ leaves behind, a lasting memory allowing myself to attempt to learn some new adjectives. This was a show that was better than expected even when expectations were out of sight. Go Galactify yourself and keep DA FISH fed with the love.

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Euro-GROOVE…You gots it!

There are so many ways one can say get down and get groovy, across the borders and territory lines, people know how to explore fascinating fusions of sound and let it take them to the other places they only have been around in dreams. Putumayo’s Groove series has once again dipped into the salty European oceans to pull out ten treasured tracks from around the European scene that takes contemporary music with different languages and allowing the ears to hear them as birds whistling a sweet head-bouncing tune. A global groove. The people of this ever changing cultural continent seem to love the flow of cultural exchanges and what better to lead people to their synergies then through the music scene. The sounds are becoming as diverse as the people’s last names with influences of hip-hop, dance and electronic music. The continent is exploring its funky and exotic side with style and soul and it is eager to show it off to the rest of the world. And that my friends, is exactly what Putumayo Groove has done for us with this release. From the smooth electronic lounge jazz of the German duo Jazzamor to the Madrid based Guateque All Stars featuring Shiva encouraging us, the listeners to “Enter the circle and let’s twirl/Enter the circle and let’s go round and round”, this IS a record to drop everything and pick up with your get down.

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Putumayo 2008 Euro-Groove

FUNKY KIDZ

Ahhh…remember being a kid..What’s that you say…YOU are now just a BIG kid. Alright, I am with that. For those that are funky kids at heart, mind and soul comes this special release FUNKY KIDZ, a groovy grouping of some funkified classic hits for children and yes, even us BIG KIDS. This collection features some of New Orleans’ finest musicians and statesmen such as: Bonerama, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Ivan Neville’s Dupstaphunk, The Radiators and Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters. The songs are classic tracks that children of all ages will have been in contact with and can even sing and oh yes, dance along like nobody is watching. These songs are meant to invoke happy memories of childhood while exposing some new and younger ears to the FUN-ky, high instrumentation sound that oozes out of the Crescent City. If you were evenr a kid growing up, this album might just be the one thing that’ll remind you of those time…Have a FUNKY good time.

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2008 ASAP Productions Inc. FUNKY KIDZ

G.P.G.D.S.

On Friday night after the Esperanza Spalding Trio show, we were treated to the second set of the Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad for some relentless vibes fortified with a rock steady sound. With a bowl full of sweet smelling groove of roots reggae and experimental dub, this very well could be some North American International Body Music. Giant Panda is honored to have shared bills with reggae greats Toots & The Maytals, The Wailers, Lee Scratch Perry, King Yellowman, Morgan Heritage, The Meditations, Mad Professor, and Edi Fitzroy. GPGDS has been joined on stage by members of John Brown’s Body, Brazilian Girls, Thievery Corporation, Umphrey’s McGee, and String Cheese Incident. Giant Panda continues to put on concerts in their hometown of Rochester, NY featuring other modern American powerhouses such as Dub Trio (in Madison on 2/25), and Toubab Krewe. The set was electrifying and a stream of soulful sound made for the get down to get DOWN.

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get on down w/GIANT PANDA

Driving in a Slushy

Conditions are always interesting for show day. Today the roads where as if driving in a giant, unmanaged slushy as cold water fell from the skies above. It makes me appreciate the dj seat even more when I settle in. I hope that comes thru in todays episode.

Totally Awesome- Honchie
Social Disease- Jaik Miller Band
Infidel- Nathaniel Street West
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Don’t Look Back- Peter Tosh & Mick Jagger
Jai’s Dub Shack- Jai Uttal
Duppy Train- Dubcheck
Creation- Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad
Red E Yo- the Afromotive
Tengo La Vaz- Nortec Collective
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John Lee Huber- Tosca
Mirror- Supreme Beings of Leisure
Gary’s Song- Alice Smith
Superwhirly- Guateque All Stars feat Shiva
Mais Uma Noite- Da Cruz
Infinity- Ill Chemistry
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Hippest March Part 2- Clyde Stubblefield
Hokey Pokey- Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Fast Car- Wyclef Jean w/Paul Simon
Unplug this Armageddon- B Side Players
Think Back- Galactic Feat Chali 2na (tixx giveaway)
Groove Holmes- Beastie Boys
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I should Have Known Better- Josh Roseman (live)
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All Over Now- Dirty Dozen w/Dr. John
Mr. Satan- Jason Ricci & New Blood
Underground- Chris Whitley/Jeff Lang
I Never Cared for you- Del Castillo w/Willie Nelson
Pick up the Pieces- Quartet San Francisco
Rockasilly- Richard Leo Johnson & Gregg Bendian
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Cuba Duba Do- Rob Fried
Kojo Blues- Keith Kilgo
Driftin- Potlicker
Everybody’s Up to Something- Brian Setzer

Esperanza Spalding Trio

There is a reason that Esperanza Spalding is usually smiling. Playing her music feels good- and it shows. An artist that goes about defining her music nightly with a voice of rhythm -n- blues jazz-scat painted with a distinct soul unique to Miss. Spalding. Her bass flirts with her vocals and creates a romantic sound captivating as it can be traditional at times, there was a sense of freedom both on the stage and in the crowd. The trio consisted of Mr. Leo Genovese on piano and Mr. Otis Brown III on percussion, and they were tight. From the moments Miss Spalding groove her way on stage, the happiness was contagious with layers of brilliance, beauty (both visual and auditory) and bold composition and arrangements and I would invite you to look into this artist who spends time playing bass for Herbie Hancock and drives her art down new unpaved paths that make her future one to keep an eye and ear on. Opening the evening off in the Wisconsin Union Theater was songstress and Gretchen Parlato with the wonderful guitarist and spirit, Mr. Lionel Loueke. The evening closed with a couple of pieces these unique artists collaborated on which showcased the openness of jazz music with an invitation for continual exploration. A stirring night of sound integration, just like the world palate presents us daily.

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Still Waiting-GBA & Puppets

The Greyboy Allstars music video for the song “Still Waiting” from the release from the 2007 release, “What Happened to Television?” Set in a juke joint populated entirely by puppets, the video (directed by Josh Hassin and Matt Goldman) features puppetry by the Philadelphia-based collective Monkeyboys, including artists from Jim Henson Studios, Crank-Yankers, Sesame Street, and Avenue Q! Produced By Akjak Moving Pictures.

Baghdad SCUBA Review..DIVE IN

Last night at the High Noon Saloon, Madison’s very own Baghdad SCUBA Review tucked the hump day goodnight with a rockin’ jam party of feel good energy (not only coming from the band itself, but the SCUBA Crew in the crowd had a true positive wave about it as well). This progressive sound is a match for listeners of cross-genre likings, as it mixes a potent blend of well crafted songs with a certain stage spark that fires up easily and burns well throughout the night. With six members on stage, the intersections of where sound meets is often exact and timeless, moving from jam to groove to rock without blinking an eye, this is certainly more than a “Jamband”, it is way more than a band that jams as well. It is Baghdad SCUBA Review, and you might want to catch the wave of positive energy and sound as I am sure this band will make its way to you in one way or another soon.

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Madison’s own Baghdad SCUBA Review

a WIND Supreme

Wind Chills of minus 25 cannot stop the arrow from turning green and free forming its way all over you. Here’s a tissue to clean off and see what you heard.

Together- Sammy Figueroa
Blusette- Hilario Duran & Perspectiva
La Concha- Daniel Mancero
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I Don’t need no Mary (Juana)- Andre Williams
Crooked- Keller Williams
Someday the Sun won’t Shine for you-Jethro Tull (live/acoustic)
the Runaway- Gentle Giant (live)
Message Stick- Xavier Rudd
Bongo Bong- Delta Nove
Buffalo- Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad
New Mexico Dub- Jah Wobble
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Coffee- Papa Mali
When I call Home- Honeytribe (demo)
Wine and Women- Pedro Arevalo
Freedom- SOL
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Koi Bole Ram Ram- Cheb i Sabbah
Chandalis Bliss- Jetsunma
Bounce Baby- Galactic w/Z Trip
Even Stranger- Baby Elephant
Wonders & Signs- Buckshot LeFonque
Shake Everything you got (live)- Maceo Parker
Chalky’s Back with Knife- Suite Crude Review
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Burning Love- Eric Sardinas and Big Motor
Cheddar- Mike Keneally and Beer for Dolphins
Purple Haze- Frank Zappa
Immigrant Song-Mike Keneally & Beer for Dolphins
Out @ 11- Baghdad Scuba Review
Ladies Man- Keith Kilgo

Being SUPREME

Did a quicky fill in to keep that whole live DJ thang kickin’. The show I covered is entitled Amnesia. Check out the link below to hear this show….

Get Away- Supreme Beings Of Leisure
Kwenda- Zap Mama
Centre of Nowhere- LadyBUG Mecca
Revolution Eventually- SugarBitch
Revolution- Sirsy
Bad Weather- A.K.A.C.O.D
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Think Back- Galactic feat. Chali 2na
Change Da Game (remix)- Deviants of Reality
Baby Elephants & Thangs-Baby Elephant w/George Clinton
The World is a Little Under the Weather-Funky Meters (live)
No Pain No Gain- Buckshot LeFonque
Deeper Shade of Soul- Urban Dance Squad
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Stevie’s Spanking- Frank Zappa (live)
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One- Tao of Groove featuring Leslie King

Lovespirals-Long Way From Home

Lovespirals have hit no only their stride on this third album, Long Way From Home, but also hit a warmth in my ear. Combining the dreamy folk and rock of their 2002 debut, Windblown Kiss, with the soulful jazz and blues of 2005 follow-up Free & Easy, the duo seamlessly blend their past works and listens with new sounds and styles. More than melancholic music, there is a sense that they traveled with you on similar & familiar roads with the radio tuned to the same left of the dial station in the middle of wherever. After nearly a decade of artistic collaboration between singer/songwriter, Anji Bee, & multi instrumentalist & producer, Ryan Lum, it is no wonder that they have managed to put together an album of answers to questions yet asked with a subtle sultry sense of sound security. Lovespirals have gained many new fans, from both their heavy involvement with the digital music revolution & their growing popularity in the podcasting world. They were a forerunner of band pocdasting, launching Chillin’ with Lovespials in mid-2005. This Podshow syndicated podcast has detailed their work on Long Way From Home, leaking clips of songs in progress, as well as remixes, live recordings & demos w/ thousands of listeners monthly. Bee’s popular podsafe music podcast, The Chillcast, has won the band additional fans due in no small part to her stature as “the sexiest voice in podcasting.” The album’s first podsafe single, “Motherless Child”, was remixed by indie bands including Karmacoda, Hungry Lucy, and MoShang, for a digital EP which is entirely podsafe.

Try this album on for yourself.
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2007 Ryan Lum/Anji Bee

2008 Wanee Festival Info

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Don’t miss the 4th annual Wanee Festival at the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park!

Live Oak,Florida is kickin in the springtime!!

The Allman Brothers Band
Gov’t Mule
Bob Weir & RatDog
moe.
Oteil & the Peacemakers
Levon Helm
JJ Grey & Mofro
Larry McCray Band
Scrapomatic
Bonobos Convergence
Little Brown Peach
The Frequency
Inca Maya

Special Saturday Midnight Set With
Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi’s Soul Stew Revival

and soon more bands to be announced!**

2-day festival tickets includes camping & tons of other exciting things to do in the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park!

Gates open at noon both days!
Music starts at 1pm both days!

VIP tickets also available!

For more info, visit www.waneefestival.com
or www.musicliveshere.com